Tap-hole closer.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

UNTTEE STATES Patented July 14, 1903.

PATENT OEErcE.

TO RUDOLPH PREHODA, OF CLIFF MINE, PENNSYLVANIA.

TAP-HOLE cLosEa.

'- SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 733,908, dated July14, 1903.

Application filed March 11,1903. Serial No. 147.221. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN HLAVAOEK, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Cliff Mine, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inTap-Hole Closers, of which the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in tap orbung hole closers, and is particularly adapted for closing a tap or bunghole in ale or beer barrels; and the object of the invention is toprevent such barrels from becoming sour or foul and musty after beingemptied of their contents; and a further object of the invention is toclose the tap or bung hole in such a manner that ingress to the keg orbarrel is closed after the spigot is removed, whereby any foreignsubstance may not pass into the keg or barrel, andthereby foul the same.

Briefly described, the invention comprises a valve which is mounted on apivoted arm and on a spring-pressed rod. The pivoted arm is under thetension of the spring at its rear end, and the valve is adapted to lienormally over the bung-hole to close the same and is moved backout ofposition by the driving of the spigot into the tap or bung hole, andwhen the barrel orkcg is emptied and the spigot removed the valve isforced into position over the tap or bung hole,whereby to close thesame.

In describing the invention in detail reference is had to theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and whereinlike numerals of reference indicate like parts throughout both views, inwhich- Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of a part of thebarrel or keg, showing my improved tap or bung hole closer in position.Fig. 2 is a plan view of a part of the head of a barrel or keg, showingthe closing device in the closed position.

In the accompanying illustration of my invention I have shown a deviceattached to the head or end of a barrel or keg, though it will beapparent that the same could be applied to the side'of a barrel or keg,if so desired. I

will describe the same in detail, however, as applied to the head orend, (designated by the numeral 1,) provided with a tap or bung hole 2.Mounted on the inner face of this head 1 is a bracket-plate 3, whichcarries a standard 4, provided near its outer end with an inclinedopening 5, and having a slot 6 between said opening 5 and the inner endof the standard. This slot 6 receives the curved spring 7, fastenedatits rear end in the keeper or bracket 8, attached to the plate 3, withthe other end of said spring attached to the rear end of the curved arm9, which is pivoted to the bracket 10, carried by'the bracket-plate 3.This arm 9 is connected to an eye 11, carried by the closing-valve l2,and also hooked into this eye is the end of the curved rod 14, on whichis mounted the coil-spring 15, permanently fastened at its end adjacentto the valve 12, with its other end resting against the standard 4. Thevalve 12 lies over the tap or bung hole 2 on the inner face of the head1, and as the spigot is driven into position this valve will be forcedout of the way to the position shown in dotted lines of Fig. 1 of thedrawings, the curved rod 14 receding through the opening 5 of thestandard t. As soon as the spigot is removed from the tap or bung holethe springs 15 and '7'serve to close the valve 12 against the inner faceof the head or end 1, as seen in the drawings, preventing any foreignmatter from entering the keg or barrel, the valve being securely heldagainst the head or end by the tension of the springs.

It will be noted that various changes may be made in the details ofconstruction without departing from the general spirit of my said curvedarm is received, a curved rod In testimony whereof I aflix my signaturehaving one of its ends hooked in the eye of in the presence of twowitnesses.

the said valve and its opposite end arranged in the inclined opening ofthe said standard,

and a spring encircling said rod and having Witnesses: its one endengaging the said standard, and CHARLES SCHUMACHER, its opposite endsecured to the said rod. FRANK J. HOHEDER.

JOHN HLAVAGEK.

